Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

St. Johns County, FL Parking Rules: Loading Zones (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Under 8,000 sq ft
1 loading berth required
100,000+ sq ft
5 loading berths required
Hotel/motel formula
1 berth per 100,000 sq ft, max 5
Minimum space size
12 ft wide, 16 ft clearance
Minimum length
30 ft local, 60 ft semitrailer
Prohibited use
No storage or parking substitution
Enforcement
County Administrator, LDC Sec. 10.05.01

Summary

St. Johns County requires every industrial, commercial or hotel/motel use in the unincorporated county to build on-site loading berths sized to its square footage, from one berth under 8,000 square feet up to five berths over 100,000. Loading space cannot double as parking or storage.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of St. Johns County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

K. Off-Street Loading Space, Required 1. Every Use requiring the receipt or distribution, by Vehicles, of materials and merchandise shall have one or more loading berths or other space for standing, loading and unloading on the same or adjoining premises in accordance with the requirements of the table below ... Loading spaces ... shall not be used for the storage of Vehicles or materials, or to meet off-street parking requirements, or in conducting the Use. ... Off-Street Loading Requirements: ... Industrial and commercial Uses as follow, Minimum number of loading berths required: Under 8,000 square feet, 1 berth; 8,000 - 25,000 square feet, 2 berths; 25,000 - 50,000 square feet, 3 berths; 50,000 - 100,000 square feet, 4 berths; 100,000 - Over square feet, 5 berths. L. ... 5. ... Each required Off-Street Loading Space shall have a minimum width of twelve (12) feet and a minimum vertical clearance of sixteen (16) feet above finished grade of the space. The length shall be a minimum thirty (30) feet for local delivery and sixty (60) feet for semitrailers.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

Under LDC Sec. K, any use in unincorporated St. Johns County that receives or distributes materials or merchandise by vehicle must provide loading berths on the same or an adjoining lot, sized by the table in the Code: 1 berth under 8,000 square feet of floor area, 2 berths from 8,000-25,000, 3 berths from 25,000-50,000, 4 berths from 50,000-100,000, and 5 berths above 100,000 square feet. Hotel and motel uses get their own line: one loading berth per 100,000 square feet of floor area, capped at five berths regardless of size.

If a proposed use is not listed in the table, the County Administrator sets the number of required spaces using accepted traffic-engineering practice (Sec. 3). 2). Loading spaces themselves are tightly restricted in use: Sec. 1 bars using them to store vehicles or materials, or to satisfy the site's off-street parking requirement. Design standards sit in Sec. L: each space must let a WB-50 semi-trailer maneuver into and out of the space in one continuous backing movement entirely on-site, observe the same street and interior setbacks required for structures, and be surfaced in all-weather material kept safe and sanitary. 5). 4).

Violations & Fines

Growth Management's County Administrator enforces the Part 6.05.00 loading standards under the countywide enforcement chapter, LDC Sec. 10.05.01. A violator first gets written notice under Chapter 162, F.S., describing the deficiency and the corrective action required. If it isn't fixed in the stated time, the county may prosecute the violation as a misdemeanor under Section 125.69, F.S., or pursue it through the Chapter 162 citation process established by County Ordinance 94-36. Each day the violation continues after notice is a separate offense.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many loading spaces does a commercial building need in St. Johns County?
It scales with floor area under LDC Sec. 6.05.02.K's table: 1 berth under 8,000 square feet, rising to 2, 3 and 4 berths at the 25,000, 50,000 and 100,000 square-foot marks, and 5 berths above that. Hotels and motels instead get one berth per 100,000 square feet, capped at five.
Can I park cars or store equipment in a required loading space?
No. Sec. 6.05.02.K.1 says loading spaces cannot be used for vehicle or material storage, and cannot be counted toward the site's separate off-street parking requirement. They must stay available for actual loading and unloading.
What size must a loading berth be?
LDC Sec. 6.05.02.L.5 sets a 12-foot minimum width and 16-foot vertical clearance for every required space, with a 30-foot minimum length for local delivery vehicles and 60 feet where semitrailers are expected to use the space.
What happens if a business skips required loading spaces?
The County Administrator issues a Chapter 162, F.S. notice specifying the violation and required fix. Uncorrected violations can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under Section 125.69, F.S., or cited under the county's Chapter 162 process, with each additional day counted as a new violation.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Johns County

All St. Johns County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Johns County to another location·View the Florida parking rules overview

Get notified when Loading Zones in St. Johns County, FL changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.